A Magistrate Court, sitting in Akure, Ondo State has sentenced a 38-year-old bricklayer, Olushola Olatunde, to 21 years imprisonment for stealing items in some churches.
Olatunde was arrested by the men of the state police command on December 8 and 24, 2024 for stealing some money, a public address system and an iron rod among other items valued at N1,340,900 in the Revelation of God Miracle Church.
He was later charged to court and arraigned before the court on six counts bordering on stealing and illegal entry.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charges.
During the trial, the state prosecutor, D.S. Msonter-Shagba, informed the court that Olatunde committed the offences between December 24, 2024, and January 8, 2025, at different times and locations in Akure.
Msonter-Shagba said that on December 24, at No. 17 Plaza Road, Isolo, Akure, he broke into the Revelation of God Miracle Church and stole a 16-channel live series audio mixer worth N250,000 and a public address system valued at N250,000.
Also, on the same day, at No. 7 Ore-Ofe Street, Oke Ijebu, Akure, the convict broke into the Garden of Faith Church, stealing items that included an amplifier worth N230,000, a 6.5kV generator valued at N250,000, two lengths of 12mm rods worth N19,600, and an iron tithe box valued at N35,000, totalling N534,600.
On December 24, 2024, the prosecutor said Olatunde stole 33 bags of cement valued at N306,900 from Shasha Market, Kilometre 12, Owo Express Road, Akure. The stolen items were said to have been valued at N1,340,900.
Msonter-Shagba argued that the offences committed contravened Sections 383, 390(9), 415, and 413(2) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006
In his judgement, the magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, convicted and sentenced Olatunde to 21 years imprisonment without an option of a fine.
The court stated, that in counts one, two, three, five, and six, the defendant is sentenced to four years imprisonment each, and in count four, the convict is sentenced to one-year imprisonment.
The magistrate however ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, which means Olatunde would serve four years in the correctional centre.